Undergraduate Research Internship Program at MSU-Billings

Summary

A significant number of Montana State University Billings students are non-traditional
(the average age of the student body is 25), many of whom not only attend school but
also work and raise their families—44% percent of MSUB students work 26 or more hours
per week off-campus, and 27% provide care for dependents. This may leave capable students
little time in their schedules to pursue unpaid internship opportunities, regardless
of their intellectual/academic capacity to do so. In MSUB’s most recent (2013) National
Survey of Student Engagement, only 14% of seniors had worked with a faculty member
on a research project, compared to the average 24% of students attending Rocky Mountain
public universities and colleges. The low number of students participated in this
High Impact Practice affects not only the quality of their college experience but
also the preparedness of potential employees in our area’s biomedical and public health
industries.

Applications will be offered to undergraduate students during spring semester of 2017
for summer 2017 AND/OR 2017/2018 academic year support.

Requirements Include

Minimum of Sophomore Status

Availability to commit either to Summer 2017 AND/OR 2017/2018 academic year to the
research internship

Minimum grade point average of 2.75

Strong interest in research with an emphasis on biomedical or human health

Successful completion of a laboratory or research methods course with a B or better

Good time management skills

Good communication skills

A strong desire to continue on in a research intensive field

Recommendation from a faculty advisor

Commitment to present their research at the MSUB research day and the INBRE sponsored
undergraduate research day

Applicant Preference

Junior or Senior Status,

grade point average >3.24

Previous undergraduate research experience

The review panel will consist of the INBRE MSUB FACULTY mentor and at least two current/former
INBRE investigators. Though applications will be solicited from the University as
a whole, based on our experience, we expect most of the applicants will come from
the research labs of previous or current INBRE investigators who are continuing their
INBRE initiated projects or who have moved onto related work. These investigators
include David Butler, Tom Lewis, Kurt Toenjes, Sarah Keller and Susan Gilbertz.

Specific Aim

We anticipate selecting four qualified students who will independently identify research
questions pertinent to the biomedical or public health fields. The research experience
should provide students a deeper understanding of scholarship and healthcare needs
in Montana. In doing so, the goal of the Montana INBRE Program to increase the biomedical
research capacity of its citizens will be accomplished.